Boy Admits He Brought Bombs To High School

Downers Grove Student Enters Plea

A Downers Grove North High School sophomore pleaded guilty Wednesday to twice bringing homemade bombs to school, one of which prompted an evacuation of the school.

The 15-year-old boy, who is in custody in the DuPage County youth home, was joined by his father and stepmother when he entered his plea before DuPage Judge Peter Dockery.

In exchange for the guilty plea on two charges, prosecutors dropped 10 counts against the youth, whose name is being withheld because of his age.

The boy could be sentenced to supervision or probation or to juvenile prison until he turns 21.

His lawyer, Michael Byrne, said after the court hearing that the teenager has no prior criminal record, and said he would seek the minimum sentence.

"He had no intention of harming anyone," Byrne said.

He said the crude homemade bombs could not have hurt anyone and added that the placement of the devices in the school was a "prank" and a "call for attention."

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 5.

The student said little Wednesday, but he answered a series of yes and no questions put to him by Dockery to determine whether he understood the consequences of his plea.

He pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon in connection with a May 28 explosion of a homemade bomb in a second-floor boys washroom at the school, and to unlawful possession of a weapon for putting a bomb in a first-floor washroom Oct. 20.

Two students were in the washroom during the May incident and suffered a ringing in their ears from the explosion, prosecutors said.

The bomb discovered in October did not detonate. But when it was discovered, authorities evacuated the school, telling students a water main had ruptured.

The DuPage County bomb squad removed the device and detonated it in the school's courtyard.

Late that night, authorities found two M-80 bombs, wrapped with tape, foil and nails, hidden inside a cracked cinder block on a wall that was being remodeled.

The youth did not admit that he placed the M-80s at the school, his lawyer said.

But prosecutor Gary Duerkoop, head of the DuPage County juvenile prosecution division, told Dockery that the youth did admit to placing the bombs in the washrooms when he was questioned by school authorities and police in October.

Several students would testify that the youth also admitted to classmates that he was responsible for the bombs, Duerkoop said.

When he was apprehended, authorities found two other devices in the youth's backpack, Duerkoop said, "but they did not contain explosives."

Duerkoop said the youth admitted making the bomb found in October, telling authorities he had hidden it in his bedroom until his father became suspicious about his conduct. "So he got rid of it," Duerkoop said. "First he denied bringing it to school, and then he admitted it."

Duerkoop said the teen also admitted planting the bomb that exploded in May.

Dockery approved the youth's transfer to a hospital Thursday for psychiatric testing. Byrne said the boy could be admitted for a few days, then returned to the youth home.

Byrne has filed a motion seeking the boy's release from the youth home, asking that he be placed in the custody of his parents. Dockery said he would consider that request at a hearing later this month.